Aviation Books.....Must Read Tomes!

[18greens]

Some fix wing recommendations but non the less very interesting

Talkdown - Brian Lecomber (about a non pilot landing an aerplane when the pilot expires)

Fate is the Hunter - Ernest K. Gann. (life of an airline pilot in DC3s).

[Whirlybird]

All this stuff about Robert Mason may be true. However, when someone becomes famous, particularly for writing something or doing something that others feel they could have done, some people get jealous. So personally I'm inclined to keep an open mind on the whole issue. Good book anyway.

[rjsquirrel]

I think badmouthing Mason is a bunch of crap. I spent a tour in Vietnam flying Army helos, and I have told people that Chickenhawk is so very true to what we did that I would sign every page.

Some who knew Mason might have said that stuff, but like swift boat idiots who decide to defame their buddies decades later, all they do is smear themselves.

Mason, and all the other Army pilots I flew with are really heroic, did a dirty job, took big risks, and in the end, deserve to be recognized for that. (I guess this seems self serving, cause I am in that group, but I was the only shivering, scared idiot, the rest were heros!)

[ppf]

Chickenhawk is by the far the greatest book I have read (5 times to date I believe!). This book has inspired me to read other such books and learn about this war with which I am fascinated by.

Although the Vietnam War may have been deemed the 'wrong' war I read Chickenhawk and other such books with belief that these are truly great people that fought and died.

Rjsquirrel and other vets, you have my respect.

ppf

[Vortex what...ouch!]

I have read this book in double digits now. First read it in the mid eighties on exercise in West Germany – found it in the back of a landrover. It inspired me to become a helicopter pilot – I always knew there was something I liked about flying but this book brought it firmly into focus for me. Took me a while but I managed it.

He sure can capture what it means to fly and get it on paper – and judging by the Vietnam pilots comments he got the flying in combat bits right too.

[VfrpilotPB/2]

Chickenhawk and other good 'helicopters in action' books

Good morning Ppruners,

At last I have been lent a copy of the BOOK, what a brilliant read, almost sat in the back seat it is so consuming!!

Peter R-B
Vfr

[helimutt]

Dustoff

If you enjoyed that one, get a copy of 'Dustoff', The Memoir of an Army Aviator by Michael J. Novosel

[misterbonkers]

and Seawolves by Daniel Kelly is a damned good read.

[ivan]

More Good Reads

There is a "sequel" to Chickenhawk which is enjoyable, but involves following him into his post-Vietnam struggle (including financial woes leading him into running a yacht into South America for drugs and getting some jail-time).

"Low Level Hell" is another good read - Loach pilot in Vietnam. Similar sort of Chickenhawk style memoirs, but involving drawing fire onto himself so the gunships could take out the revealed enemy positions....

[ivan]

As I recall, Chickenhawk was a part of flight training in between reading the flight manual and standardisation guide... "Now, when I'm a little short on power with my instructor tomorrow I'm going to kick in a boot of right pedal and corkscrew my way out of the confined area, maybe cutting back on some foliage in the process with the main rotor.........that'll show Charlie....." (the well-thumbed crewroom copy of Bob Masons book the eternal instructors' nightmare!)

[NickLappos]

Chickenhawk is a great read, and true enough so that I have told folks it is about as accurate as it gets.

For those who can't find a copy, here are 273 copies for sale at abe.com (the best used book site, by far):

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...hawk&x=52&y=10

[ScrumpyLuvver]

For you brits if interested..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chickenhawk-.../dp/0670215821

[rotornut]

Great book - now I know why they have the canopy slat on the TH-55/300 series!

[Bravo73]

I've also got to leave my vote for 'Low Level Hell' by Hugh Mills. (Amazon US, Amazon UK).

It is just as well written as Chickenhawk, the stories are more believable and the flying is even more incredible. Highly, highly recommended.

[Sgtfrog]

Yes its very good - also enjoyed "Firebirds" by Chuck Carlock, a slightly better read in my opinion.

Funny enough I bumped into a guy who - I think - was the pilot/something to do with a Huey which was parked at Helitech 2005. I had just read Chickenhawk and - as he was an american - mentioned I had read it. He got a bit angry as he seemed to have problem with the author, I think he believed that the author had "borrowed" some of the experiences in the book from other people.
Can anyone shed some light on this? Not trying to stir things up, just interested. (I know its been a while but I had forgotton about the conversation until I read this thread!)

[Bravo73]

Er, SgtFrog, this gent that you met didn't happen to have a beard, did he?

[Local Lad]

for me by far it has to be 'Low Level Hell' what a corking read. It's about time i re-read that book.

Hats off to all the people who went through that.

I did read a good book by a door gunner, the name escapes me...it'll come to me.

[Sgtfrog]

B73 - yeah, now you mention it I think he did.

Just seen the photo - still in the dark ages on dial up!!!!

That looks like him and the huey at redhill?

[Bravo73]

In that case, he will probably be along in a jiffy to tell you exactly why some of Mason's stories are slightly suspect. He goes by the name 'SASless' around these parts!



(Of course, if you do a quick search for 'Chickenhawk', you will probably find his previous posts on the topic.)


And yep, that's when the Huey visited Redhill in 2005.

[Sgtfrog]

B73,
Thanks for that - I'll check the previous posts if its all been said before...

Just read a couple of the related threads, I'll also look for the the Low Level Heli book.